Cynicism and courage

News Type: Opinion — Wed Nov 5, 2008 5:23 PM EST

politics, obama, hope, neocons, cynicism, positivity, new-deal-of-love

revolution

It's easy to be cynical, especially about politics. I suggest that there are several causes:

The media encourage it by always seeking "balance". For example, McCain dog whistles his supporters into thinking Obama is a closet Muslim who will have them all shot, and the media try to find something, anything, bad to say about Obama's campaign to match that.
The conservatives encourage it as a defence mechanism. They'd rather not say "I voted for a series of evil @!$%#s who have destroyed the country and wrecked the lives of millions, while stealing everything that isn't bolted down and giving it to their mates in the corporations who own them, all because they promised a few dollar off my tax bill and I didn't care if the poor got shafted." So they say "all politicians are self serving, treacherous and beholden to the lobbyists, but we had to vote for the 'responsible' ones with a 'steady hand on the tiller.'" (what does that mean, by the way, when you look at what the neocons have done? Are you nuts?)
Lazyness. If you'd rather not think about it, if you don't want to be wrong, if you can't be bothered taking a position you might have to defend, it's easy to say "aaah, they're all bastards."
But the fundamental, the most pervasive and serious cause of cynicism, the one we all have to guard against, is that it hurts to care and hope and be passionate and have those hopes dashed and that passion turned against us.

We can't afford any kind of cynicism because it paralyses us and allows evil to flourish, but we especially can't afford the last kind, because it freezes our hearts. If that's what's happening, get angry, not cold. Right now, take the risk of hoping.

There are manipulative and self-serving men and women all through the political system, but I firmly believe Obama is not one of them. If he is to do more than Clinton, and he must, then he must do it from a grassroots movement. Not one which is ready to call him out for every slip (not that he gets a free pass), but one which expects and creates and supports change in all the middle ranks of administration of the country. The petty bureaucrats and policemen and secret policemen and corporate criminals and every other person who made out like a bandit under the authoritarian state the neocons encouraged - they all must be turned into compassionate humanists or they all must be overthrown. Letters, meetings, rallies, but more importantly a smile and a reasonableness and a positivity, and a refusal to accept the old ways.

That can be done, in this new climate. If you don't think there is a new climate then it's because we haven't created it yet.

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{"commentId":3935611,"authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

Angel_C

Hooray--I'm with you. Sometimes fear and cynicism is easier that taking that leap of faith into the great unknown

{"commentId":3935611,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

5 votes

#1 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 10:29 AM EST

{"commentId":3935769,"authorDomain":"alkimija"}

alkimija

I agree with what you have to say, but I think that the word that would be more appropriate here is "apathy" instead of "cynicism." After all, cynicism means a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others and in all probability a person with that unfortunately realistic attitude about government isn't the source of our problems. It's the indifference to the blatant corruption of the government by so many that is the source: if the people were truly good and outraged by the indisputable violations of the state, they would rise up and either vote the offenders out of office permanently, or worse.

{"commentId":3935769,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"alkimija"}

4 votes

#2 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 10:36 AM EST

{"commentId":3946025,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}

Djehuty

Yes. That's exactly right although they rather go hand in hand - cynicism being an excuse for apathy, and apathy also standing on its own.

{"commentId":3946025,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"djehuty"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 5:55 PM EST

{"commentId":3941171,"authorDomain":"chum"}

Chum

But the fundamental, the most pervasive and serious cause of cynicism, the one we all have to guard against, is that it hurts to care and hope and be passionate and have those hopes dashed and that passion turned against us.

Well said. I have faith that we can keep that hope and passion and change course. Immediately would be my preference.

{"commentId":3941171,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"chum"}

4 votes

#3 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 2:20 PM EST

{"commentId":3947226,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

lauhal

Beautiful! With this election finally over, I hope many of Newsvine's most excellent writers (you included) get back to writing to their strengths. I really miss the "other stuff"! :)

{"commentId":3947226,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}

8 votes

#4 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 6:32 PM EST

{"commentId":3948338,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

You are so right. We need to move forward, and slowly, I think we will. We all need to come to terms with this new world. The politics of today are being re-defined. Everything somehow seems different now.Well, not quite everything. But, I'm definitely excited for what may come. And hopefully, there will be less tolerance for the politics we all find to be so disgusting.

I'm waiting to see what Obama will do with his huge network of people. He will not let that valuable resource go to waste in a few hard drives somewhere, I'm sure we'll be getting more emails from his people at some point.

{"commentId":3948338,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"lele"}

5 votes

#5 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 7:16 PM EST

{"commentId":3949553,"authorDomain":"ianfwalter"}

Ian Walter

There are manipulative and self-serving men and women all through the political system, but I firmly believe Obama is not one of them. If he is to do more than Clinton, and he must, then he must do it from a grassroots movement.

Agreed. He is clearly a good man and he has a strong vision. But he must use the bully-pulpit. If he does, he will give cover to the politicians who agree with him--and even to many who don't.

It is time for fireside chats. Convince us, Mr. President, and we'll get your back.

{"commentId":3949553,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"ianfwalter"}

4 votes

#6 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 7:57 PM EST

{"commentId":3949814,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

This is not very long yet it hits exactly the right buttons for me. Thanks mate.

There are manipulative and self-serving men and women all through the political system, but I firmly believe Obama is not one of them.

Nor do I. It is actually very easy to see the soul of the man. Throughout history, every so often, an individual rises almost from nowhere who acts as a catalyst for a major step change for mankind. Obama has not quite done much yet. As he said, this is just the beginning of a chance to make a change. But with courage and conviction, the cynicism he will face (and it is right that he should as that is part of the checks and balances that are essential) can be addressed and replaced by a strong, collective will to transform.

I think we are all part of something momentous. Just know we are.

{"commentId":3949814,"threadId":"411649","contentId":"2077294","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

4 votes

#7 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 8:07 PM EST

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